18-21 Sept and 26-28 Sept 2003. The programme of the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale in Spoleto gets underway in mid-September with two operas, La Traviata by Verdi (18-21 Sept) at the Teatro Nuovo and Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart (26-28 Sept) at Teatro Caio Melisso. The company, founded 56 years ago by journalist and musicologist Adriano Belli, trains young singers and promotes their careers. Big names from the past, such as Franco Corelli and Anita Cerquetti, as well as still-active singers such as Mariella Devia, Sonia Ganassi and Giuseppe Sabbatini, all started their careers here. Paolo Baiocco will conduct La Traviata with the original scenery by Nicola Benois, who worked with film director Luchino Visconti.

Paolo Di Nicola